Tracker for automatic musical instruments.



c. s. BURTON. TRACKER FOR AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.-

4 BEETS-SHEET 1.

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APPLICATION FILED 1101 .22, 1912.

O. S, BURTON. TRACKER FOR. AUTQMATIG MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 22, 1912. 1,098,881 Patented June 2,1914.

51 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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G. S. BURTON.

TRACKER FOR AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLIOATION FILED NGV. 22, 19 12.

Patented June 2, 1914 4 SHEETS-811315733.

nfllllrl G. S. BURTON.

TRACKER FOR AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 22, 1912.

1,098,881 Patentai June 2, 191

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4;

Um; "will! GHARLEE; :52

, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS.

Application filed November 22, 1912.

To aZZ 'UJIIOZH- it may concern Be it known that I, Cilantro S. Bunion, a, citizen of the United States, residing at Oak Park, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Trackers for Automatic Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

The purpose of this invention is to provide an improved tracker device for automatic musical instruments using perforated note sheets which shall be adapted for change of distance from center to center of the duct mouths to accommodate variations in the note sheets, either such as exists by reason of note sheets being out upon differ ent scales, and also such as result from changes in the sheet itself after cutting, from expansion and contraction due to atuiosphoric changes.

It consists in the elements and features of construction shown and described as indicated in the claims.

In the drawings :-l*igure 1 is a front elevation of a tracker device embodying this invention, together with the note sheet rolls and associated parts. 2 is a section at the line on Fig". 1. big. 3 is a section at the line 3-3 on Fig. ,1. Fig. 4. is a View similnr to 1, showing a modified form of the invention. Fig. 5 is a section at the line 5-5 on Fig. Fig. 6 is on end elevetion oi the device of the form shownin Fig. i.

The tracker device embodied in this invention comprises an asseml'ilnge of tubes, one for each tracker duct, arranged side by side in u row so as to present their mouths in the position of the tracker duct mouths in an ordinary tracker bar. such tubes being: retained in su h row by suitable guide and retaining bars, of which two bars between which the ends oi" the tubes are presented it'oi'zn the nolc sheet supporting surface or edge of the tracker. 'ihe tubes are spaced apart by tapering ,arers, which being); positioned at vm'yiug points of their length be tween the tubes, space the letter apart more or Less, and so change the scale or uuituru' distance from center to center of the li these Slf'm'tll-l being :uibstnntially won; very slow taper and being all mouu single carrier so that they are admin retracted siniuitaucously and equally ion of [Letters I-atent.

Patented June 2, 1914;.

Serial No. 32,843.

tween the tubes for varying the distance from center to center of the tubes. The entire assemblage o1 tubes is pressed longitudinally by spring devices at the opposite ends, so that the wedge-like spacers upon being retracted permit the tubes to be pressed together by the springs, and upon being advanced' between the tubes force the latte! apart against the pressure of the springs. The middle spacer of the entire group is mounted upon the carrier so as to be immovable longitudinally of the group, and it thus serves to preserve the center of the entire row of tracker ducts unchanging; but all the remainder of the Wedge-like spacers are loose on the carrier for movement on the carrier longitudinally of the latter and of the tracker ducts, and so that the tubes are spaced more or less by the greater or less in.- trusion of the wedge-like spacers between them, the spacers themselves are spaced on the carrier so that at all times they are in position to be advanced or retracted directly across'the line of tubes between which they operate for spacing the latter.

The tubes, 1, as shown in the drawings, are square in cross section, and they are preferably parallel-sided for abutting latwise gainst each other, or rather against the spacers in the ow in which they are arranged to form the tracker. In order to alter-d ample space for connecting; these tubes with flexible rubber-tubes for leading to the pneumatic action in the usual manner, alternate tubes, 1, are bent to offset their rear end portions, i alternately to opposite sides of the planes of the axes of their forward or mouth portions, 1". Such offset preferably effected by providing each tube with an oblique portion, 1", intermediate the end portions, 1 1". These tubes are mounted between a middle supporting bar-,2, whose upper surfaces are sloped tofit the oblique treiul of the portion, 1, of the tubes, and upper and lower supporting and retaining bars-.8, 3, whose lower and upper faces, respectively, are sin'iilarly sloped to correspond to the slope of the oblique portions, 1, of the tubes.

curved in the usual The portions, l, oi the tubes erly positioned between them, as shown in Fig. 2..

The bars, 5, 5, are spaced forward from the forward edges of the bars, 3, 3, to admit between them the width'of wedge-like spacers, ,7. These spacers are preferably for.

i convenience of operating the devices anstraight bars.

nular segments, though except as a matter of convenience in operation they might be At the thicker pnd, each of the spacers is formed with a hubwhose thickness is nearly the normal distance from center to center of the tracker tubes at their closest spacing; that is to say, slightly less than one-ninth of an inch. At their'thinner ends, the spacers may be as thin as one-onehundredth of an inch, increasing in thickness from the thinner ends back within a short distance of the hub at a very slow taper, the maximum thickness at any point in the lengthdesignedto be entered between the tubes being not exceeding one-sixteenth of an 1I1Cl1, the difference in th1ckness be- .tween the thinnest and thickest portion designed to be assed between the tubes bcr ingsubstantia ly the difference between the distance from center to center of the duct mouths of the tracker adapted to be operated :with note sheets cut'on the scale of nine to the inch and slightly shrunken from' that scale,-as such note sheets are liableto be in extremely dry weather,-

and the distance from center to center of duct mouths of trackers adapted to, be operated with note sheetscut on the scale of sixto the inch and slightly expanded, as such note sheets are liable to become in moist weather, the difference between the two scales being one-eighteenth. of an inch, and the total taper of the spacers being enough more thanone-eighteenth of an inch to provide also for the shrinking and swelling of the note sheets. The middle spacer, 7", is mounted rigidly upon a shaft, 8, which is carried upon lever arms, 12, 12, of a rock shaft, 13, journaled in the end checks, 6, 6, said shaft, 8, extending parallel to -the tracker at either side of the same, be-

- rigidity with the rock shaft, '18

ing shown above the tracker in the drawings. The other spacers are .mounted loosely on the same rock shaft so as to be free to slide thereon. The said middle s acer, byits adapted to keep the center row of the tracker ducts unchanged through all adjust" cuts, and to further insure this result against the liability of the spacer, 7 to be spr ung laterally on account of its thinness, it is further guided and positioned by spring clips, 9, 9, which are mounted on the upper and lower bars, 3, so as to clasp the spacer, 7 ,lbetweenj their springfingers, their elasticitypermitting them to spread to accommodate the taper of thespacer, but their stiffness being adapted to effectively resist the slight tendency to deflection of the spacer laterally,

which would change the center of the row of tracker ducts.

The rock shaft, 13, is journaled as stated, in the end posts, 6, with bar, 3, and the lower edges of the bar, 5,

arecurved about the axis of the rock shaft,

13, so that the rocking of the shaft, 13, causes the spacers to be thrust or drawn in the paths in which. they lie back and forth between their said guides and between the tubes which they space apart. The rock shaft, 13, is provided with an operating handle, 14:, by which it may be rocked to swing theshaft, 8, and thrust or draw the spacers, 7, 7-, through between the tubes, 1, for varying the spacing apart of the latter. For pressing the tubes together and against the spacers, there are mounted between the bars, 3, and the bars, 5, at each end of the entire group of tubes and spacers, follower blocks, 15, backed by springs, 16, which in turn are backed by bars, 17, which extend across the tracker protruding above and below the same. If the device were designed only for adjusting the tubes toaccommodate their spacing to the expansion and contraction of the note sheets due to atmospheric changes, the springs, 16, by. their resiliency would accomplish the purpose Wltll'flt provision for any other movement of the follower blocks, 15; but the movement for following up the tubes through the changes of position necessary for adjusting the-entire group from a spacing of substantially one-sixth of an inch in to the position resulting from spacing them at oneninth of an inch, is more than can be provided for by resiliency of springs which can be accommodated in the space "which it is.

desirable to allow for such springs. For that reason, the cross bars, 17 instead-of be ing mounted fixedly to afford backing for the springs, are mounted so as'to be moved longitudinally of the tracker substantially the full distance necessary for accommodating the change of longitudinal dimension of the tracker from that necessary for eightyeiglrt (or whatever number of ducts constitute the entire'tracker) ducts spaced at onesixth of an inch to that necessary for the same eighty-eight ducts spaced at one-ninth of an inch"; and for moving the entire spring cushions comprising each the follower block,

15, backing-block orcross'ba'r, 17 and intermounted on the outer sides of the cheeks, ,6,

respectively, transverse rock shafts, 18,18,

having at-each end lever arms, 19, 19, ex-

tending forward nearly to the forward edge of the bars, 3, 3, and connected bypitman links, 20, 20, with the opposite ends of the,

cross bars or backing blocks, 17, which are provided with bracket lugs, 17, extending from their rear edges for pivotal connection of said pitman links. It will be seen that by rocklng the shafts, 18, the spring cushions comprising the parts, 15, 16 and 17, will be caused to slide along the tracker toward and from the'middle. Of course, such movement inward can be made only as the wedge-like spacers are withdrawn from between the tubes to permit the latter to be closed up, and such movement outward willbe desired only as the spacers are thrust between the tubes to spread them more widely; and the movement of the spring cushion should, therefore, in the main correspond to the position of the spacers ;-that is, the depths to which they are thrust through between the tubes; but it will be seen that the springs, 16, will accommodate a very considerable amount of inaccuracy in the relative adjust ment of the spring cushions a whole and the spacers. For causing the position of the spring cushions to approximately .correspond to the'adjustment of the spacers, the

rock shaft, 13, is providedat each end,.

that is, outside each post, 6, with a bevel gear, 22, and these bevel gears mesh with bevel gears, 23, 23, on the rock shafts, 18, 18, respectively, causing the latter to be rocked equally and oppositely with the rocking of the shaft, 13. The parts are proportioned so that the angular movement of the rcck shaft, 13, necessary for the movement of the spacers throughout their whole range of adjustment is substantially the same as the angular movement of the lever arms, 19, and necessary for sliding the spring cushions the entire distance necessary for corresponding adjustment; and the bevel gears, 22, on the shafts, 13, are therefore shown equal to the bevel gears, 23, on the shafts, 18.3

In Figs. 4, 5 and 6, a modification of tllis invention shown, consisting in its app icationic a form of tracke'mdevice in which the tracker ducts are in staggered arrangement in two parallel rows at the mouth edge of the tracker, as is desirable, especially for use in a player mechanism having two sets of key-actuating mechanisms which are to be controlled through the medium of separate sets of tracker ducts. In this modification, there are two rows of tracker tubes, 1 and 1 ,the tubes of one row being opposite the spaces between the tubes of the other row. The two rows are spaced apart by a spacing bar, 5*, and are held against said spacing bar at their forwardends by parallel outside guide bars, 5 corresponding to the bars, 5, of the first described form. The tubes of both sets are further guided and held in place by guide and retaining bars, '3, 3 positioned at a distance back from the bars corresponding to the retaining bars, 3, of the first-described construction. The spacing bar, 5 extends in width so as to be opposed to the ba 3, as well as to the bars, 5 All the bars, 5, 5, 5 and 3 3, are connected at their ends to end posts, 6, forming with said posts a rigid frame'sti'ucture in which the tubes are held and guided.

Preferably, for stopping the tubes against endwise movement, they are each provided on their outer surfaces on the side toward the bars, 5* and 3*, with stops, m, which are merely little pieces of metal soldered on to the sides of the tubes which are engaged back of the bars, 5*,and in front of the bars, 3 as seen in Fig. 5. In the end posts, 6, there are journaled shafts, 8*, which are square between their bearings and have mounted upon them for rotation with them, but with freedom for lateral movement on them, spacers which are in the form of disks, 7, circular in out-line, having square apertures for mounting them on the shafts for rotation and lateral movement described, These disks are -wedge-shaped in diamctric section in one direction, so that they taper circlnnferentiallyfrom ohe side around to the opposite side, in whichever direction the circumference is followed from the thinnest point. The disks are mounted on the shafts with their thinnest points all alinedat the same side of the shaft. The disks are of such diameter that those upon each shaft intrude between the tubes of the row at the same side of the spacing bar, 5 in addition to the spacers, I, which intrude between the consecutive disks ofthe respective rows, there is mounted upon each of the square shafts at the one end of the proximate row of tubes an outside spacer or follower disk, 7 whose outer surface is in a plane at right angles to the axis and which fills out the 'ntcrval between the last tube of said proxinfiite row and the vertical plane of-the outer surfa e of the last tube at the corresponding end of the other row; that is, so that said outer surface of the spacer or follower disk, 7", is in the same vertical plane as the outer surface of said last tube of said other row. Hung on the two shafts by means of collars, 30, c ;teriorly circular and having square openings for fitting the shaft, there is pivoted at each end of the system of tubes a follower consisting each of a cross bar or follower block, 15, and a backing block, 17', and interposed springs, 10*, coiled around the shafts respectively, these followers constituting means of closing up the rows or tubes so as to hold them in close arrangea rock shaft, 13, journaled in the posts, 6*;

10 On each end of the shaft, 13, there is a bevel gear, 22*, which meshes with bevel gears, 23

on transverse rock shafts, 18", journaled in brackets carried by the posts, 6, said trans verse shafts having lever arms, 19, connected by links, 20*, with the opposite ends of the bars, 17", for. operating the spring cushion followers simultaneously and correspondinglywith thespacers, 7, for closing. up and permitting'the extension in length of 20 the rows of tubes, as required in view of the change in their spacing caused by the r0tation of the spacer disks, '7 the action in this respect being in all respects similar to that I shown anddescribed in the form shown in. Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

.Iclaim: p

1 A tracker' device for automaticmusical instruments comprising a set of tracker duct 1 tubes assembled laterally in a row; means so by which they are retained in the row; tapering spacers interposed between consecutive tubes, and means for supporting and moving the spacers between the tubes to vary the distance apart of the latter. I 2. A tracker device for automatic musical instruments comprising a set of tracker duct tubes assembled laterally in a row; means by which they are retained in the row; ta pering spacers interposed between consecu- 40 tive tubes;'a carrier on which the spacers are assembled with freedom of lateral movement thereon, and means for moving the carrier .to move the spacers between the tubes for varying the distance apart of the latter.

3. A tracker device for automatic musical instruments comprising a set of tracker duct tubes assembled laterally in a row; meansby which they are retained in the row; tapering spacers interposed between. conscu tivetubes; a rocking carrier on which the spacers are mounted with freedom of lateral movement thereon, and means for rocking the carrier to move the spacers between the" tubes to vary the distance apart of the latter.

.4. A tracker device for automatiemusical instruments comprising a set of tracker duct tubes assembled laterally in a row; means by which'they are retained inthe row; tapering spacers interposed between'consecuy tive tubes; a" rocking carrier on which the spacers. are mounted for rocking therewith with freedom of lateral movement thereon; and'mea'ns for rocking the carrier to move thespacers betweenthe tubes. 6'5 5. A tracker device for automatic musical instruments comprising a set of trackerduct tubes assembled laterally in a row; means by which they are retained in the row; ta- Y pering spacers interposed between consecu-- tive tubes; followers at the ends of the row of tubes; means for moving the spacers be- I tween the tubes to vary the distance apart of the latter, and connections from said means for moving the followers lengthwise of the row of tubes for accommodating the change of length of the row due to change of spacing.

6. A tracker device for automatic musical instruments comprising a set of tracker duet tubes assembled laterally in a row; means by which they are retained in the row; tapering-spacers interposed between consecutive tubes; elastically yielding followers at the opposite ends of the row-of tubes for I holding them yieldingly together against the 8 intervening spacers, and means for moving the spacers between the tubes to vary their distance apart. v

7. A tracker device for automatic musical instruments-comprising aset oftracker duct tubs'assembled laterally-in a row; means by which they are retained in the row; tapering spacers interposed between consecutive tubes; elastically yielding followers at the opposite ends of the row of tubes for holding them pressed together against the intervening spacers; means for movingthe spacers between the tubes to vary their distance apart, and connections from said means to the followers. for moving them cor- 1G0 respondingly toward and from each other.

8. A tracker device for automatic musical instruments comprlsing a set of tracker duct tubes assembled laterally in a row; longitudinal guide bars by which they are retained in the row; tapering spacers interposed between consecutive tubes, and means for supporting and moving. the spacers between the tubes to-vary the distance apart of the latter.

p 9. A tracker devicefor automatic musical instruments comprising a set of tracker duct tubes assembled laterally in a row; means .by which they are retained in the row; ta- ,pering spacers interposed between eonsecutive tubes; meansfor supporting and mounting the spacers comprising a rock shaft extending longitudinally of the row, and a shaft actuated thereby on which the spacers are mounted with. freedomof -lateral move- -ment thereon, and means for rocking the rock shaft. I

10. A tracker device for automatic'musi cal instruments comprising a set of tracker duct tubes assembled "laterally in a row;

means by which they are retained in the row; tapering spacers interposed between consecutive tubes; a carrier. on which the spacers are mounted with freedom'of lateral movement thereon, saidcarriercomprising 'arock shaft extending longitudinally of the cal instruments comprising a set of tracker duct tubes assembled laterally in a row; means by which they are retained in the row; tapering spacers interposed between consecutive tubes; a longitudinal roclt shaft; a shaft on which the spacers are mounted, and connections by which =tl1e rock shai'ft actuates the spacer-carrying shaft; followers at the opposite ends of the row of tubes mounted for movement toward and from each othcrfor holding the tubes and intervening spacers in close arrangement; transverse rock shafts and connections therefrom for moving the followers, and gear connections from the longitudinal rock shaft to said transverse rock shafts and means for rocking one of said shafts.

12. A trackcrdevice for automatic musical instruments comprising a set of tracker duct tubes assembled laterally in a TOW; means by which they are retained in the row; tapering spacers interposed between consecutive tubes; a longitudinal rock shaft;

lever arms on said rock shaft at the opposite ends of the row of tubes; a bar carried by said lever arms for supporting the spacers; followers at the opposite ends of the row of tubes mounted for movement toward and from each other for holding the tubes and intervening spacers in close arrangement; transverse rock shafts and connections therefrom for moving the followers, and sear connections from the longitudinal rock shaft to said transverse rock shafts, and means for rocking one of said shafts.

13. A tracker device for automatic musical instruments comprising a set of tracker duct tubes assembled laterally in a row; means by which they are retained in the row; tapering spacers interposed between consecutive tubes; a'carrier on which the spacers are mounted with freedom of lateral movement thereon, said carrier comprising roclr shaft extending longitudinally of the row and a shaft or bar on which the spacers are mounted, the spacers being curved in the arcs of circles about the axis of the rock shaft, and means for guiding them between the tubes in the paths-in which they are thus curved.

a wm i sins romprisin a set or tiacma o by they are retained in the row; ttapering spacers interposed between co secutive -tubcs; av carrier on which t spacers are mounted with freedom of later movement thereon. said carrier comprising; a rock shalt extending longitudinally the tracker device for automatic musical 7 cmblcd laterally in a row; me

row and a sh nor on which. the spacers are ncn-rotatably mounted, the spacers being curved in the arcs of circles about the axis of the rot'r shaft, and means For rocking the rock shaft. y

tra cker dc ice {for automatic musical nmcnts comprising a oft tracker duct ass assembled laterally in a row; me

which they to retained in 1e row; rs interposed between conmen for moving the spacers the or tance apart of the tubes said tubes being bent to ofiset their rear end "one alternately in opposite directions :rom the longitudinal plane containing the of their forward portions, and a'bar interposed between their oppositely deflected portions against which the tubes lodged at the hip formed by such deflection.

it. A tracker device for automatic musical -'istruments comprising a row of tubes assembled lam-ally with their months all in the same pl as; guide bars between. which their forward portions are thusassembled with, freedom of lateral movement; taper-. inp spacers interposed; between the tubes, and meafor moving the spacers to vary the distance apart of the tubes, said. tubes being Lent alternately in opposite directions to oil'set their rear portions from the longi tudinal plane containing the of their flu-ward portions; a guide bar interposed between their oppositely deflected portions extending longitudinally of the row, and having the tubes lodged upon it at the hip formed by said deflection, and longitudinal guide bars outside said deflected portions between which and said interposed bars their said deflected portions are retained and guided in the lateral movement of the tubes.

17. A tracker device for automatic musical instruments comprising a set of tracker duct tubes assembled laterally in a row; means by which they are retained in the uow; taperin' spacers in =rposed between consecutive ,arrier on which the spacers are '"l adapted be moved between aid spacers being fixed r'al mo en'ient on said carrier and 1-1. bcin movable laterally theretor holding the tubes in art against their intervening evice for automatic musical "ar'sinf; a set of tracker duct aterally in. row; means by ined in the row; taperbetween consecutive n the spacers are asl to be moved between i said spacers being fixed ,ovement on said carrier r or being movable laterally a yielding follower at the end 19. A tracker device for automatic musical instruments comprising a, set of tracker duct tubes assembled laterally in a row; means by which they are retained in the row; tapering spacers interposedbetween consecutive tubes; a carrier on which the spacers-are assembled and adapted to be moved between the tubes, one of said spacers being fixed against lateral movement on said carrier andthe remainder being movable laterally thereon; a follower at the end of the row;

LUCY 1. 81mm, M GE TRUDE ADY. 

